Paint line marker

ABSTRACT

This is a paint line marker which is especially useful in marking parking lots for vehicles and small confined areas such as pedestrian crossways at road intersections. Basically, the concept involves the in-line mounting of plural paint rollers in a frame, wherein the particular rollers are self-wiping, continuously self-aligning to ensure the accurate positioning of the device as a paint line is deposited, substantially indelibly.

United States Patent [72] inventors Lawrence W. Simpkins 7344 Simpson Lane; Lawrence W. Simpklns, Jr., 5608 Eastwood Court, both of Clinton, Md.

20735 21 AppLNo. 791,576 22 Filed Jan.16,1969

[45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] PAINT LINE MARKER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 15/230. [51] lnLCl 844d 3/22, 844d 3/28 [50] Field 01 Search 15/27, 230.11, 248.1;401/15. 22.197, 208, 218, 219, 220

[56] Reference Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,316 9/1941 Votaw et a1 401/208 X 2,589,407 3/1952 Lee 401/218 X 2,805,436 9/1957 Christensen et al 401/218 X 3,015,837 1/1962 Teall 401/137X 3,160.909 12/1964 Nelkin 401/15 FOREIGN PATENTS v 540,989 9/1955 Belgium 401/197 1,106,159 7/1955 France 15/2301] Primary Examiner- Daniel Blum AnomeySemmes & Semmes ABSTRACT: This is a paint line marker which is especially useful in marking parking lots for vehicles and small confined areas such as pedestrian crossways at road intersections. Basically, the concept involves the in-line mounting of plural paint rollers in a frame, wherein the particular rollers are self-wiping, continuously self-aligning to ensure the accurate positioning of the device as a paint line is deposited, substantially in delibly.

PATENTED AUDI 719?:

\ IINVENTORS BY semmesamrSemmes ATTORNEYE PAINT LINE MARKER DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The concept of using plural rollers is known in the printing industry and related constructions are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 443,798, 2,589,407, and 3,230,570.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contrast to the prior art, it may be stated that the present invention is particularly adapted to the simple mechanical expedient of applying paint line to roadway, particularly where the utility for such a device is restricted to confined areas in which, through one dipping, a fully complete parking or related guideway line may be applied to the roadway, or parking area, without further embellishment andlor cleaning. The complemental relation of the in-line rollers in this instance, particularly in that they are self-wiping, is such as to ensure the objective of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS HO. 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof; a portion being in fragment;

FlG. 3 is an end view of the FIG. 1 concept;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section of one of the plural rollers used in the devices shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and the subsequent FIG. 5 device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of invention, hereinafter described.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1, the paint roller device 100 includes a joumal-frame 110 having bumper 112 and handle bracket 4, conveniently located to space the journal brackets 110 and 110' appropriately opposite each other, said brackets 110, 110' having plural journal apertures therein to accommodate the axles hereinafter described. An operating handle bracket 116 is secured to the rear spacer 114, said bracket 116 preferably having means for adjusting the angular relationship of the handle to the device.

The rollers 120 are each formed to include a cylindrical member terminating in convex hubs X22 (reference FIG. 4), the same having axle apertures 124. The rollers 120 each include a cover 126, the ends of which project beyond the con- ,at the other end with a removable wing nut, which is threaded to the axle member. The purpose of these axles is to secure the respective rollers in-line, so that their hubs 122, being convex in conformation, provide a suitable, self-cleaning bearing surface against the joumal-bracket 110, no further bearing surfaces being required. Moreover, the convex relationship of the roller member 120 is such as to ensure that the unused portions of paint shall be easily recovered by the roller cover for absorption and reapplication, as will be apparent from examination of the device. The covers 126 are optionally removable from the rollers. lf removable, they preferably have an elastic, friction fit thereon.

In operation, the respective rollers 120 each are aligned in such a fashion that the continuous complemental realignment of the respective rollers is undertaken, whereby one is assured that during in-line marking, an essentially uniform straight line may be ensured. As the rollers are self-wiping on the joumalbrackets, the residue of the wiped paint is forced gradually back onto the hub and again into the respective rollers; thus no dressing up of the applied line is necessary.

With the foregoing in mind we claim:

1. A fixed-line paint applicator for accurate application comprising in combination:

A. cradle chassis comprising an endless rectangular rigid loop, said loop defining plural, in-line axle seats;

B. at least three rollers mounted upon the respective axle seats, each said roller having an applicator cover, ends of each said cover being in wiping contact with opposed elongate inner portions of the cradle loop;

- C. means mounted at one end of the cradle loop to propel the applicator to and fro, whereby the movements of said applicator are controlled by the plural rollers for substantially straight complemental in-line application of paint.

2. The applicator of claim 1 in which the rollers each have convex hubs at ends, the hubs being set for bearing contact with the cradle chassis.

3. The applicator according to claim 1 in which the rollers include removable covers, the ends of which are in wiping contact with the cradle chassis. 

1. A fixed-line paint applicator for accurate application comprising in combination: A. cradle chassis comprising an endless rectangular rigid loop, said loop defining plural, in-line axle seats; B. at least three rollers mounted upon the respective axle seats, each said roller having an applicator cover, ends of each said cover being in wiping contact with opposed elongate inner portions of the cradle loop; C. means mounted at one end of the cradle loop to propel the applicator to and fro, whereby the movements of said applicator are controlled by the plural rollers for substantially straight complemental in-line application of paint.
 2. The applicator of claim 1 in which the rollers each have convex hubs at ends, the hubs being set for bearing contact with the cradle chassis.
 3. The applicator according to claim 1 in which the rollers include removable covers, the ends of which are in wiping contact with the cradle chassis. 